If Zenyatta wins the Classic, she'd still need another "win" against the boys. Sorry her record this year is very weak, not like the great record and top horses she beat last year!

Synthetics are far more inconsistent than are dirt tracks---amazing a horse can get the $$ every time on such surfaces---losing Rachel in the Cup is a great race forever lost---But you could also blame Cal Racing--they changed everything overnight/with far to little input--The ONLY good thing about synthetics are their ability to handle rain/their ability to attract Euro 1st stringers.....The advent of synthetics prevented the Rachel/Big Z matchup....

I guess I would have to ask are there any regrets that the organizers of the Breeders Cup would allow for the event to be held on synthetics for 2 consecutive years.  I am a big proponent of Year end championships as it is needed to show who the true champions of the sport are.  Unfortunately I am not a fan of the synthetics as it has totally ruined the game, as attested to by the comments of John Sheriffs, and many other trainers who have either had to adapt to the changing surface or move on.  If there is 1 person who would make the assertion that the synthetics plays anything like dirt, I would beg that person to please stand up.  The dirt races were invaded last year as if the "Euros" were coming, and they did and they faired very well.  The problem I have with that is this international even has a history and during the first 20 some odd years of that history it was imperative that a foreign horse come over and acclimate itself to a dirt surface.  When the Breeders Cup changed all of that this led to American Dirt horses being at a disadvantage.  Looking at the order of finish last year gives evidence of that, when was the last time European horses finished 1-2 in the Breeders Cup classic run on dirt.

Secondly, I would agree with some that a racing league would need to be assembled, this would allow for a governing body to come together and make races like the one that the world is looking forward to between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in a regular sized field against other Grade 1 competition.  This would allow allow for the world to understand the true greatness of a horse, when running in a equal amount of races.  For example, Ginger Punch took on all comers last year with 8 starts last year, 6 of them being on the Grade 1 level, truly an ambitious campaign by her connections. In the case of Zenyatta she raced 7 times and in Grade 1 competition 4 times, there is certainly a difference in the quality of races that both of these mares raced in, therefore a difference in which horse was fresher. Some dont agree but that is my opinion and numbers dont lie.  As for Rachel not running in the B.C. I am very happy to see that Jackson is sticking by his decision.  I would not want to see her entered in a race where her speed up front is compromised, maybe they will bring Zenyatta back for a 6 year old campaign to let her run on dirt consistently.  Then she can really be defined as a champion if she can win consistently on dirt and not just be considered a Synthetic Specialist.

Rachel has conquered every middle distance division on dirt except older fillies and mares. If the connections decided to run in the BC, it would undoubtedly be in the Classic. I would love to see her go in the Beldame against Careless Jewel, Icon Project and of course Zenyatta.

i for one do not want to see rachael at the breeders cup.it should takes months of conditioning to get her fit to run on the 'plastic'' stuff.she has already done enough to prove that she is the champ.she is a three year old and has had a heavy racing season.she deserves the time off and i do not see how any other horse can beat what she has already done! zenyatta hasn't raced enough or out of her comfort zone..not enough!

Mr. Jackson did enough last year when he allowed himself to be "petitioned" and compromised his beliefs, running Curlin at Santa Anita.  He deserves to be left alone this year.

Any more talk about Zenyatta and RA meeting up for the Beldame Stakes on October 3rd at Belmont Park?  

Belmont Park has formally invited both of these great horses to come and has beefed up the purse to entice them.

Hey, does this remind anyone of the huge effort there was to get Seabiscuit and War Admiral to run in a match race?

Alex,

what you are really saying is please run RA in the Breeders Cup because without her this years edition is going to be a tough sell.  Jess isnt going to run her and you and Greg are in a tight spot.  This years Breeders Cup faces an uphill battle. Sans the surface issue, whoever had the lame brain idea to increase the number of races to include two days was nuts. Couple this with the event being at the same location as last year.  INSANE.  People travel to the BC, like huh...we were just there!?!.  Kind of like going to the same bowl game every year.  So get off the RA wagon, isnt going to happen.  What is going to happen is you guys are going to have to start thinking smarter.  

my only queation is could she go in to the BC after an 8 week break? perhaps at this time of year and her conditioning it would be fine to train her up to it.  i don't see it even happening though to be honest.

 oh--one other-would a loss to zen in the distaff means she loses HOTY?

if her connections decided to race her again, it would be nice to see her go a mile and a quarter.i do not have ANY doubt what so ever that she can do it, but it would still be nice. Seeing her up against Zenyatta would be a real special way to close her 3 year old campaign but if it doesn't happen i won't be bothered by it. she doesn't need to prove anymore this year. If she weren't a tired horse and it were a perfect world it would be cool so see her go in the jockey club gold cup, but that will be a tough race and she has already gone through a grueling campaign.

Well, of course YOU think she should go.

I would like to see it too, but I enjoy vengeance and pettiness so I am also glad she's not going. =p I have nothing against you wanting her to go, and I'm not sure if you're right or not... But it is obvious that you would want her to go, right or wrong - so can we please hear the opinion of someone without a vested personal interest next time? I am not bashing you, but anyone with a brain already knows that you want her to go.

There is absolutely no way that any horse deserves to win Horse of the Year over Rachel Alexandra and especially not Zenyatta.  I am a huge Zenyatta fan, I think she's an amazing horse, but she has only run 3 races this season and NONE of them against the boys.  Rachel has run 8 races, won all of them and 2 of them against 3yo colts and then against the older colts.  Rachel does not need to run in the Breeders Cup to secure her place as Horse of the Year.  She's demolished every field she's faced this season, has run in 7 states, 6 different tracks, on sloppy and on fast tracks and even a track she didn't like.  What more does she need to do to prove she's the 2009 Horse of the Year?  

Then look at Zenyatta.  She's run all of 3 races, races that were hand picked for the ease of which she would win.  She won't win whatever race she goes into at the Breeders Cup.  I say this because the other jockeys & trainers have figured out, if you get far enough ahead of her, she can't catch you in the final stretch.  She nearly lost the Clement Hirsch because they got so far ahead of her.  She won't win against the boys.  Last year, yes, she would have won easily.  This year, she is not the same monster she was.  The Mosses have very carefully picked her races and have done everything that they could to duck Rachel.  Belmont has stated that they will not use the detention barn for the Beldame if Zenyatta and Rachel come, since that is the Mosses main complaint about Belmont.  They eliminated that, they have increased the purse size if Zenyatta & Rachel both show up, making it more worthwhile to ship Zenyatta east.  Even money says that they still will not ship her east because they do not want to face Rachel.  

Simply put, it is the beginning of September and Horse of the Year is a lock.  There is no other horse that can beat Rachel.

Cmon, yes it does appear that the NTRA and the B.C. have pinned themselves into a wall, I find it interesting that there is a mare out in Cali that relishes the synthetic surface and draws a great crowd, and all of a sudden the B.C. decides to open its doors in Cali on synthetics two years in a row.  Please someone tell me when the B.C. held its event at the same venue two years in a row.  I'll wait. Sadly the world of horse racing will suffer due to a number of top class horses will not be there this year and I for one would not bat an eye when this happens.  This is what occurs when no research is done and quick hasty decisions are made. People suffer, the pocket books of the Ntra and the B.C. is what will suffer most.

I'm not disaapointed RA won't be running.  In fact, I'm glad JJ is taking a stand against the BC at SA.  It's a beautiful track but dirt championships should be on dirt!

"My strong suspicion is that Rachel will win the 2009 Horse of the Year award even if she takes the rest of the year off. The only possible way it could turn out any differently is if Zenyatta wins the Breeders' Cup Classic, or defeats Rachel head-to-head..."

LOL

Alex, get real. HOTY competition is OVER no matter what Zenyatta does.  

Zenyatta, HOY, plastic, dirt, two years in a row at same venue, they are all moot points.  

The only indisputable argument for running Rachel in the BC was just stated here--true champions may not always like the venue, the timing, the other players, whatever, but they show up regardless.  

I'm sorry but this article makes so little sense imo. The point is made that sports people take on challenges when things aren't always in their favour, so why do we have Breeders Cup championship races on Turf? Seriously, I'm from England so obviously Turf racing is the predominate surface but if the surface in racing wasn't so significant why do we have two different surfaces at each Breeders Cup to decide champions on each surface over different distances? Racing doesn't have no major/Grand Slam thing so Mr Jackson doesn't need to take on the challenge. If Mr Waldrop you really want to have three different Breeders Cup meetings. (One for synthetic, one for Turf and one for Dirt with huge bonuses for the champions at the end then you have a case) Mr Jackson can wait for next year. And he has so much power in this whole thing. The Breeders Cup Classic winner will only at the very most be deemed the best horse on synthetics in America because of what Rachel has done, and if it's a European winner American racing will right it off as a Turf like track again. He can watch the Breeders Cup knowing no one will think of the Classic winner as a true champion. This is the Breeders Cup boards fault for changing what worked Mr Waldrop and sadly you probably know it. Curlin probably wasn't at his best last year, but the reason he was the moral winner of the Classic is because under all the other previous conditions of the Classic we can't assume either Raven's Pass and Henrythenavaigator would have handled Dirt. I'd like to know why the US Graded Stakes committee haven't stepped in and removed the Graded status of all Breeders Cup World Championship races on the synthetic tracks because they are being run under different conditions completely.

Why isn't the Breeders Cup just held at the SAME track every year? It seems to me that's the only way to really cement its status as a championship-deciding, end of the year event. The synthetic surfaces have really skewed the Eclipse awards the past two years- the governing body of racing ought to either stop holding the BC on synthetic tracks, or they ought to create a new category of Eclipse awards just for synthetic races. If nothing is done to try and even out the playing field, trainers will continue to just pick and choose when to compete, based on the current year's location. Horse racing will always lose in that scenario.  

Why would you send your champ on a cross-country trip, to run her on a surface she has not even trained upon for a year, and after such tough challenges the last 3 months, and on a track that favors closers and turf runners?

RA already locked HOTY honors, and has nothing else to prove this year. Successful owners and trainers KNOW that you win races by following a well-thought plan, with the best conditioning and timing between races, and most importantly, knowing hot to pick your spots.

I applaud Mr. Jackson for doing right by the horse, while at the same time planning a campaign for RA with the right challenges time and again. It takes intelligence and excellent teamwork to do so.

To put their accomplishments in perspective, RA's 3-3, all-G1 wins against males, 3-year olds and older, while also winning 2-G1's against her own sex, and completing the Ky Oaks & Preakness double with two-weeks rest, is something that Personal Ensign, Winning Colors, Genuine Risk, Ruffian, Davona Dale, Azeri, Lady's Secret, Go for Wand, Bayakoa, Open Mind, Serena's Song or Zenyatta, to name a few of the best fillies and mares of all time, failed to accomplish, or did not even try.

C'mon Alex, give it a rest. She ain't going, because she has nothing to gain, and a lot to lose, and her connections are way too smart to do something so dumb.

The REAL fun will be the public reaction if RA skips the Classic and it ends up being won by an American DIRT horse in spite of Mr. Jackson's contentions.

It will be especially interesting if the American winners turns out to be a horse RA has already beaten and fans start to thinking about what could have been.

That's just gotta be JJ's worst nightmare at this point...  

The Breeder's Cup has lost a step recently.

With her win in the Woodward Stakes against top tier older males, Rachel Alexandra rendered the Breeder's Cup completely irrelevant as far as determining Horse of the Year. Mr. Jackson hasn't missed any steps at all in expertly placing his filly both to test and establish her superiority and to showcase the sport of kings. I highly doubt that he will fumble now. And a lot of people agree that he is dead on the money regarding synthetic surfaces. Considerations regarding dirt horses for year end awards should only be influenced by their performance on dirt surfaces. Seems pretty basic to me.

So the BC had already made itself irrelevant as far as sorting out dirt horses by holding this prestigious event on a synthetic track that plays more like grass than dirt, leaving many dirt horses without a true venue. I'm not sure what it proved last year since so many dedicated grass horses dominated our so called 'dirt' races, while many fabulous dirt horses struggled with the Pro Ride.

Add to this that the event is being held in the same place two consecutive years. If a competitive horse's best two years align with the BC being held in consecutive years at a venue that doesn't suit that horse, that horse is simply robbed of a fair chance to show the world what they can do against the best. Case in point - lights out sprinter Fabulous Strike didn't get to show the world what he can do on it's biggest stage last year, and quite sensibly, he is unlikely to return this year. Fans can only hope he hasn't lost a step in 2010. So, why would they schedule a venue two years running for a sport in which many horses only run two years? Hmmmm. That needs an answer. Does anyone know what the rationale was?

Further, since a horse's dirt form can be quite irrelevant as to how it will handle the ProRide surface at Santa Anita, I am not certain that current PP formats do enough to emphasize this point to handicappers. Perhaps that's fine if all the industry wants or needs is the current generation of die hard handicappers who already had synthetic surfaces shoved down their throats and moved on, but if the sport needs new blood, why needlessly add to the perception that this industry has a credibility problem by running dirt races on anything other than dirt? What information does one use to handicap so called dirt races run on something other than dirt when true dirt form can become irrelevant to some unknown degree? How does one know which horse's records will transfer and which will not, or to what degree? Other than the horses that have already raced successfully on ProRide, there are no universally reliable answers to these questions. I recommend a bold font disclaimer on the BC PPs advising the fan base and betting public that only God knows if a horse's true dirt form may or may not carryover onto the ProRide at SA if only to avoid all that messy regulatory scrutiny that follows a bait and switch.

Don't even get me started about the injuries that can occur with a change in surface, but in light of the fact that synthetic surfaces were designed to accommodate a weakened breed, I think it is a colossal mistake to breed horses specifically for synthetic surfaces vs. breeding horses to run on what God designed them to run on, which is, of course, plain old dirt. Therefore, I would not like to see to future BCs run on a synthetic surface -- any synthetic surface.

While I might watch a few key horses such as Zenyatta, I won't be glued to the tube for the entire BC as in past years. {{{yawn}}} And I never ever wager on a synthetic track.

First off , why is it so imperative that Rachel & Zenyatta face off against one another ???  Does it matter who is HOY ???  They both have shown their own greatness in their own way.

Rachel got beat up in the Woodward. Yes, she did win the race, but she was put to the test and pushed to the limit. And why, just to prove a point she could beat older males ??  There have been comments about the tragedies that befell Eight Belles and Ruffian; is this the same fate you want to occur to Rachel, " just " for the pleasure of the racing public ???

Rachel has had a great racing season, lets not ruin it. Let her relax, get fit for next year. Think about it folks, next year is but a few months away, can you wait that long ??? Ah, the anticipation of seeing Rachel another year older. I think the wait will be worth it.

I will be upset if we cannot call Rachel a "Breeder's Cup Champion".

Sahkee and G. Causeway ran good on dirt, and remember Arcangues?  Euros run well in the Classic no matter the surface.

Yes, Rachel needs to run in the Distaff or Classic or Dubai World Cup to put the last notch on her belt.  The one that says "Worldbeater".

Like Cigar, Silver Charm, Tiznow,etc.

I would worry less about what Rachel is going to do during the Breeders Cup and I would worry more about what the NTRA is going to do to promote racing and Rachel in 2010. How about doing something now with ESPN to make sure Rachel is getting national exposure.  And since she is running next year how about getting the marketing together to take advantage of the greatest filly ever running in 2010.

Draynay nailed it with the best comment possible! Skipping the BC is a foregone conclusion and zero value exists in lamenting RA not being there.

That said there is more then sufficent leadtime now to build up the mainstream interest, marketing and coverage of RA in 2010.

There will be no excuse for her next graded stakes run in 2010 to not be available on TV outside of the TVG/HRTV.  Go back to NBC Universal's Bravo! if you have to but get the race seen by a more broad audience.

You have gold here, don't squander it as the Haskell was and the Woodward was ....

Mr. Waldrop, my suggestion to you is to get your own house in order, and then maybe people will see your intentions through a different lense. To compare the "World" chamionship,[are you sur you weren't the announcer for the Newlywed Game] to the British open is laughable.Just because this is your bailiwick, please use a little more judgement with your comparisons. No one is going to give you anything just because you describe your event as worldly or "best on the planet". I saw the first Breeders' Cup when Arnold Palmer was already on the Senior Tour. You've got a long way to go. The decisions that have been made on venue alone has been to put it mildly ridiculous. Twice at the same track when the jury is still out on the surface, and you want other people to adjust to your mistakes. The marketing of the event has been terrible. Listen I am not a huge Jackson fan, but I think you need to start to look inward if you want to improve the event.[if indeed it is labeled World Event why not hold it in Europe...why not keep Woodbine in the mix. Logistics are the easy out for most politicians, but if you want an event that people will respect, forget about the labeling and stop pointing fingers at others.

I'm sorry but I agree with Jackson - I am not crazy about the synthetic tracks.  If a horse trains and runs on dirt they should stay there.  I think there is more risk of injury if you change mid stream - and as a huge fan I do not want to see Rachael hurt!!  If sh races again I would like to see her run in the Beldame in October providing she is healthy, but if she takes a break it is well deserved.  I also do not think if Zenyatta wins the BCLC she will take HOY.  Rachael has gone out of her element this year and if Zenyetta runs in the BCLC she will still be running in her same element.  Don't get me wrong - Zenyatta is a great horse but I personally believe Rachael has done more.

The Breeder's Cup is a great way to determine HOY honors when there is no standout candidate, but clearly, Rachel had the most remarkable season of any horse...in years for that matter!

Shame on the Breeder's Cup for scheduling the event at the same venue two years in a row. It's pretty hard to run the Breeder's Cup Classic on a surface that plays like turf and expect no defections from the race. I wish they would stay true to American dirt racing.

Also, I doubt anyone would argue that the lack of coverage on network television was absurd. One of the great seasons of all time and most Americans have no idea it even occurred.

I'm pleased to see how many people commented on this and got it right. No one should be using Rachel's absense from the the Breeder's Cup as a scapegoat for problems in the industry. She did her part by running an amazing campaign, but the industry failed to expose it to the main-stream public.

How about moving the Classic to dirt NOW, for this year, and inviting all comers? Then, if Rachel is not a tired horse, and can train up to it as she has looked all year (up to her owners and trainer to tell us), we can have the race we all would want. NTRA is to blame for this, and no one else. Rachel has nothing more to prove this year either way.

Give Rachel a rest.  She deserves it.  I want to see her race next year as a 4 year old.

Lets put aside the safety argument,breeders cup venue,handicapping etc. I truly believe that racing on  synthetics produces a MUCH more exciting race with multiple horse close finishes. Not the speed favoring spread out finishes common with dirt races. Day in day out excitement is what the game needs to capture a larger fan base. Waiting 35 years between Triple Crown winners or a once in a lifetime "Rachel" won't get the job done.

Rachel’s done for the year because she’s done more than enough for the year — a perfect eight for eight, including three victories against the boys — on several different and genuine (dirt) tracks.

Zenyatta’s record this year pales by comparison — beating weaker opponents on fake surfaces while recording lower Beyer speed figures than Rachel’s.

The BC should never have been held at Santa Anita for a second straight year. If the BC had been held elsewhere this year, Zenyatta might have been forced to prep outside of California and might have run against Rachel. But, as it is, they can keep her safely sequestered in California. The only way Zenyatta could conceivably get Horse of the Year is if she were to run in the Classic and defeat males. But that’s not going to happen.

Mr. Waldrop:

Not to dwell on the negative, but I am squarely on the side of Oahunick, PG303 and others who regret that Rachel won't be at the Breeders' Cup.

Many fans have stated that if Rachel had remained with her previous owner, she would not have had such an ambitious 2009 campaign, and that's probably true.  However, after facile wins in a few more filly races, I think the trainer and public sentiment might well have prevailed and Rachel might have faced males at some point.

In any case, the Breeders' Cup was in the plans for the filly.  After the sale to Jackson occurred, the blogosphere was alive with protests about Hal Wiggins and what a crying shame it was that he would not be her trainer any more.  His handling of Rachel was seen as pure, wonderful old-fashioned horsemanship, though conservative according to the wishes of the owner.

Folks, he would have trained her toward the Breeders' Cup.  So now that she has a new owner, she will not run and it's "in the best interest of the horse."  Sorry, not buying.

She will be missed at the Cup by me and untold thousands of other West Coast racing fans. Plus, of course all the people watching on TV, who may be confused by all these issues.  It's just a shame that a horse whose popularity is so transcendant won't perform on the sport's biggest stage.

Rechelle's analysis is spot-on.

Zenyatta's connections should be thrilled that Rachel is only 3 and not 4 so Zenyatta can still win older mare Eclipse award.  She's out of the running for HOY.  No horse, not even Sea the Stars can take that from Rachel this year.

The Breeder's Cup should NEVER be run on the same track 2 years in a row, let alone one that is designed for turf/synthetic specialists. Once was fine to demonstrate it, but should at best have gone back into the rotation.

To keep the BC at one track every year is also absurd.  Rewards the owners/trainers/fans of one region over all others, which is supposedly against the intentions of the event.

Zenyatta will be very hard pressed to win the Distaff (or whatever nonsense name they've given the race) and very little chance at all in the Classic.  

Am very interested to see how Careless Jewel does on the plastic.

Rachel has earned her rest.  She's already run more races than Zenyatta has, and beaten better horses.  She's won 5 G1 races in a row, on 5 different tracks, and 3 of them against males.  Zenyatta has won two G1 this year, none against males, and of her 3 races total this year, she's only raced over 2 tracks.

She's the best synthetic female race horse running in California right now.  But can't say much more since she's shown nothing more this year.

It seems to me that everyone is lumping dirt tracks in one big pile. ALL dirt tracks still have a different surface. One can have more sand, be deeper, faster etc... Some horses like the Sandy track at CD others don't. Also, the reason for the "plastic" tracks was to make racing safer for the horses remember! I agree that not enough research was done for this and in Europe they do train on these types of tracks, notice I said train! But champions are not undeafeated, sometimes a true champion is seen because of the way they lost not how they won, anyone remember how Seattle Slew lost to Exceller? Anyone bash SS beacause of it, NO! It was a champions race and he lost like a champion would, runnin against the best and fighting.

Oh my God..this talented filly has attracted some real gems for fans. RA is nothing more than a dominant 3 yr old filly that is good enough to beat the bottom of the barrel of the 3 yr old boys and a couple of mediocre older boys. and her connections have made it appear to look like an "aggressive campaign" (and in true Chris Angel fashion). she should have run in the Travers...and won THAT classic race at a classic distance. so far IMO she is far from a "world beater". take on the best of the best Mr. Jackson...the "great ones" can run on anything. solidify her place in history. swallow your plastic pride and prove she's the best..BY BEATING THE BEST.

Some have suggested that ESPN or others commit the time and expense to market RA's races in 2010. While it's nice and cozy to wish for that it's not practical and far from logical. There is absolutely no guarantee that she will race again. Thoroughbreds are so suceptible to career ending injury it makes it a huge gamble to commit millions on a marketing program like this. Don't hold your breath. This is why you aren't in marketing, you have little clue. How would you like to be the one who sells the idea to mgmt. and after they pour big money into the hope she comes up retired? It's hard enough to find a job without throwing away the one you have.

For all intents and purposes, 2009 HOY is over.  Rachel has been at it all year, earned all the accolades and will not race again this season. Heres hoping that Zen runs the table from here, whatever her connections deem appropriate.  The NTRA should be working to get them together in the Donn @ Gulfstream next year before Zen exits to the breeding shed.  Throw in the two "Birds" and racing would have a huge start to the 2010 season.  2009 IS Rachel's year.      

The least valid comparison for any two horses these days is the number of Grade 1 events they have won. Fully half of the Grade 1 events should be downgraded. For instance, not one of the spring New York F&M events that Ginger Punch won so easily last year deserves to be Grade 1. At least RA won the Ky Oaks, Preakness, and Haskell, which genuinely deserve Gr. 1 status. The Woodward this year was a Gr. 2 quality race.

Its JJ horse he should run her where he WANTS NOT where U Want

And so the beating drums get louder, trying to flush Rachel out of the bush and onto a plane to Cali.  Well fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.  Last year Mr. Jackson was baited to bring an over-the-top Curlin out to Nip/Tuck Land for a HOY showdown only to see his big horse struggle and fail, but not before IEAH, the main instigator, bailed.  This year he has repeatedly said that RA will not make that same trip and he has every right to stand his ground based on that prior experience.  If you want to promote a real championship race then start banging your congas on the left coast and chase Zenyatta to BEL on Oct 3rd to decide female HOY honors.  At least one champion should be crowned at a championship venue this year!

I hope BC and NTRA have learned a lesson these past two years.  Stay away from the carpet fibers, ground up tires, and candle drippings and while you're at it why not run the BCWTC exclusively at CD or BEL.  Those two tracks have proven they can admirably handle both the racing and the crowds.  Every place else has "issues".  Please stop the madness!

Final food for thought: with so many people here and elsewhere already calling Rachel a lock for HOY what if the horse formerly known as The Other Bird runs in and wins the BC Classic?  Doesn't a Belmont-Travers-Classic trifecta outshine a Preakness-Haskell-Woodward? Yeah, I know RA has done more winning this year but with her remarkable ability now well established shouldn't those filly races really be considered paid workouts?  In all fairness don't lick the envelopes until November.

They just held the Pacific Classic--just another race....the Big Cap? just another race....Hollywood Gold Cup? just another race.....GONE is the tradition.....

Lmaris thank you for your comments.  I love Zenyatta, I think she's amazing.  But she has her flaws and those flaws will cost her at the Breeders Cup.  She's not the freak of nature that she was a year ago.  Rachel Alexandra has done absolutely NOTHING wrong all year.  She has absolutely NOTHING left to prove this year.  Trying to run her again could be dangerous to her, she is tired, which is why the Woodward was as close as it was.  She needs and deserves a break.  People have been talking that she needs to meet Sea The Stars.  No, she doesn't, for two reasons.  1 - Sea The Stars is a European horse who most likely won't ship for the Breeders Cup.  2 - Sea The Stars is a TURF horse, she's a dirt horse.  

People need to realize that, even though it is September, Horse of the Year for 2009 is a lock.  There is not a single horse racing at this point who can beat her, not even Summer Bird.  She has beat every opponent that she's faced and done it with class.  There is nothing left for Rachel to prove this season.

I'm very happy she's staying away from the Plastic

heresy from a non-horseman!  comparing the BC to the British Open or French Open.  England and France respect the sport too much to place their grade I's or any other stakes race on synthetics or tamper with classic events as stated.  They have created tradition and they respect it.  Please forgive Alex, Greg and the others for they know not what they do!  Custodians of great national events and assets realize what they are there for. These are not prepared sufficiently to achieve that level.  They have destroyed the graded status of the BC and made them illegitimate and Jess knows it.  His filly doesn't need to compete in races with astericks.  They won't count in pedigree and they won't count in sales catalogues.

Among the boneheaded moves made by racing professionals, scheduling two years running at Santa Anita is near the top of the list and expanding to two days takes the cake.  What better way to reinforce the elitist out-of-touch image of horse racing than to put a premier event on a day when most ordinary folks are, y'know, working for the billionaires who own these horses.  After the first year at Santa Anita when it became clear that American dirt horses were at a clear disadvantage, you boys should have switched the venue.  I don't blame the owners and trainers who are voting with their feet on this one and staying home.  I don't think Rachel Alexandra needs to do anything more this year, and what the fans want should be last on the list of what Asmussen and Jackson decide to do with this filly.  She's had a much tougher year than Zenyatta, and based on her entire record this year, the only way she loses HOY is if Sea the Stars comes to American and Gio Ponti beats him.  

Paco:

"what if the horse formerly known as The Other Bird runs in and wins the BC Classic?  Doesn't a Belmont-Travers-Classic trifecta outshine a Preakness-Haskell-Woodward"?

Not when the "Other Bird" was trounced by 6 1/2 lengths by RA in the Haskell.

Paco is right about one thing -- Curlin was over the top last year. So what was the great tragedy that occurred in his finishing fourth??  None that I can see, and win or lose, many fans were thrilled that they got to see him.

I'll also agree that Rachel is likely tired and over the top as well, thanks to her grueling (by today's standards) campaign and not ever having had a real break.  Was it the optimum schedule for her?  Well, everyone is real impressed with it, so I guess so.  IF she were to compete at the BC, like Curlin, she might not win after such a long year, so from that standpoint it makes sense not to be there.

After all, you don't want to not win.  Just ask the Mosses.  Whether it's politics or an undefeated record that is the priority, yes, it sure is the owner's prerogative where to run his or her horse.  I get that.

I believe your analogies between the BC cup and the French Open etc. is completely off base. Just look at the Del Mar meet and the Saratoga. There was something like 12 breakdowns at Del Mar and 1 at Saratoga. I like the stand Jess is taking and  it's not a traditionalist approach it's the natural approach. Rachel doesn't have anything more to prove this year she has taken on the best, Zenyatta on the other hand can't say the same.

I totally agree with Draynay - Stop wasting time on lamenting the Breeders Cup and figure out a marketing strategy for Rachel (and the Birds too, MTB is very popular) that will bring the best in horseracing to people outside the sport.  ESPN, BRAVO, all sports news stations, magazines, newspapers and the internet.  Put her beautiful self out there!

Some comments on my blog entry above question why there was no national television exposure for Rachel Alexandra’s historic win in the Woodward Stakes.  At the request of the NTRA, ESPN was fully prepared to televise the race on ESPNews (65 million households) despite the short notice, but couldn’t because MSG+ held the exclusive rights beyond airings on HRTV and TVG.  A similar exclusive rights arrangement prohibited ESPN from airing the Haskell on ESPNews.  For a better understanding of the process by which the NTRA televises horse racing, read my earlier blog on the subject at www.ntra.com/blog.aspx.   For more on the NTRA’s overall efforts to publicize  Rachel’s historic campaign, read Eric Wing’s blog on the subject at www.ntra.com/blog.aspx.

Raybird, I don't understand your comments. Rachel beat the "bottom of the barrel 3-year old boys" and should have run in the Travers to really prove herself against the good colts. Am I mistaken or wasn't the winner of the Travers one of those 'bottom of the barrels" that she beat rather easily in the Haskell?

I agree with Jess Jackson's decision to not run Rachel in the BC.  She has more than earned a well deserved rest and should have nothing to prove.  If there are still nay-sayers as to her ability and worth now, they will always be that way.  She is an outstanding filly and Mr. Jackson should stick to his gut feeling and original decision ... no matter what the purse! Go Rachel!!

Rachel doesn't need to run again this year. Zenyatta on the other hand has a LOT of catching up to do if she wants Horse of the Year. The only way Zenyatta would deserve to be in consideration would be for her to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic, not against the fillies and mares. She is just not anywhere near in accomplishments where Rachel is, and Zenyatta is hampered by narrow-minded, overly conservative owners. Zenyatta proves NOTHING running on the same California tracks against the same vanquished horses. This will not reserve her a space in the history books, even if she does equal the same number of wins as Personal Ensign. It's sad because I honestly believe Zenyatta has a lot more to show us and she will never ever get the chance. What a shame and a waste of a wonderful, gorgeous mare.   As to Rachel and Zenyatta ever meeting, you can count it out unless someone is willing to carve out a dirt track in the middle of North Dakota... neither of these owners is going to budge. Jess Jackson has made his feelings well known and has great reasons to back them..The Moss' are just going to play it safe (and dull) so that they can say their horse is "undefeated"...whatever. Until she truly proves it once and for all, she's vulnerable. What happened to the good old days of racing???? Genuine Risk's owners would have laughed..

Right on Kim. RA has nothing else to prove. She has already done it at the track.

Suck it up and plan better, don't blame the owners.

Darn right he gets to race his horse where he sees fit. I'm glad he bought her so we could see her run PERIOD.

She/He has nothing to prove by running on plastic and tires.

It's a SEASON of running that proves how great you are, the BC may be the deciding factor between two horses' season, but it is not THE end all.

It's ONE race on ONE day.

Personally I think the BC folks have lost a lot of fans, lost me when you put all the distaff horses on Friday and decided to refer to them as 'ladies'. As pathetic as calling MTB and SB 'gentlemen'...

No one is questioning that Rachel has completed a stiff campaign, while the lightly raced Zenyatta is fresh.  Rachel is tired, Rachel has nothing more to prove -- true, true. The point is that Rachel, with some adjustments, could have pointed to the BC to end her stellar year.  Likewise, Zenyatta, who was always pointed to the BC, could maybe have participated in a tougher race or two, such as the Hollywood Gold Cup, on her way there.

RA's tough schedule and avoidance of the Breeders' Cup, and Z's soft path to get to it, does not mean it is heroic not to run in the Breeders' Cup and somehow second-rate to participate.  Some of the comments, if you read between the lines, almost give that impression.

Rachel could have had an historic campaign that included the BC.  A different surface would have been far more likely to embellish her legend rather than ruin it.  And she does have fans west of the Missisippi.  

Kim in KY wrote: "The only way Zenyatta would deserve to be in consideration would be for her to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic"

Kim, even if Zenyatta ran and won the Classic, she wouldn't deserve to be considered for Horse of the Year.  She has done nothing amazing or outstanding this season.  She's run 3 races so far, 2 of which were G1 on 2 different tracks in 1 state.  Even Summer Bird would deserve more consideration for HOTY than Zenyatta.  Einstein should be a consideration for HOTY over Zenyatta, but no one other than Rachel Alexandra will win it.  No other horse has done what she's done this season.  8 races, 7 tracks, 6 states, 5 Grade 1's.  No other horse has that record this season.  

Rechelle and everyone else, I agree that Zenyatta will not be Horse of the Year.  The award, as we all know, is for the horse's body of work, and Zenyatta's campaign has been lacking.  But were she to win the BC Classic, it would be a huge and unprecedented accomplishment.  I have heard all the criticism swirling around the BC since Jackson's purchase of RA (oddly, much less criticism before that transpired), but still, a Classic victory would perhaps deflect the light from Rachel for an ever-so-brief moment and shine it on Zenyatta.

Not that I know if the Mosses plan to contest the Classic, but just sayin'.

When you work with a horse daily you learn from each other.  Why does everyone continually insist on having owners and trainers run their horses where they want them to run?  I certainly wouldn't run my horse where I did not want.  Sure some avoid tough spots and try to plan out easier places for their horses to run, but no one can say that the RA connections have run from anything.  RA's last race was a very tough one.  Would any of you want to see a great horse injured for one more race when the animal had a very strenuous season already?  RA has nothing to proove at this point and the smart thing is doing what is right for her not what everyone else wants.  I really wish some of you would stop pushing.  The Breeder's Cup races are not the end all of racing in this country.  Dirt is dirt and Grass is grass, but synthetic is not biodegradable. It may be an advantage when it rains but what does it do with a lot of manure on it?

Rachel has done enough this year; her connections should owe nothing to the BC, esp. after Jackson sent Curlin last year. I for one hope he resists pressure and temptation and does what is best for the horse. She has had a long and successful campaign and deserves a break. Shes HOY already.

Rachel Alexandra has been so much more impressive this year than any other horse - male of female, younger or older.  She should get HOY! Zeniatta is great too; but she has barely raced this year, and her record doesn't match Rachel's.  It would be wonderful to find out who of the two is truly the greatest; but that won't happen; so be it! We have two exciting wonder fillies on each coast.  Why not enjoy both?

I can hardly wait for Rachel's and Curlin's colts and fillies in a couple of years.  Something to look forward to.  Meanwhile, let's enjoy the races these two super fillies run in the rest of this year and hopefully next as well!

If Zenyatta wins the Breeders Cup Classic she deserves SERIOUS consideration. Beating the best colts in the world in a race of that magnitude is far tougher than any race RA has run in and thats saying alot. You are blinded by Rachel worship if you think otherwise.

AS great as Zenyatta is, we all know Rachel has done lots more this year to lock up HOY. She will not race in tbe BC; but I'm sure we'll all enjoy bot Zenyatta's and Rachel's races wherever they race.  And who knows? Next year, the BC will be at Curchill Downs on dirt.  Rachel might still race then, although Zenyatta will likely not race on dirt there. Sure, it's too bad the two super fillies won't meet; but we can still enjoy them! And I, for one, can't wait to see Rachel's and CURLIN's colts and fillies some 4 years from now!!! Wow!

Curlinlover, Zenyatta is being retired at the end of this season.  That's why she was never taken out of California.  Ok, yeah, she went to Kentucky, but because the track MIGHT be off, they scratched her, even though the track ended up fast.  Zenyatta's career is done and I promise you, she will not run in the BC Classic.  They won't risk her unbeaten streak by running against boys, even though, I still feel confident that she will lose at the Breeders Cup.  

Let Rachel have the rest of the year of to rest.  She's run 8 races this year and has been in training for months.  Let her have the Fall and Winter months to grow and develop more.  She's only 3 and has a lot of room to grow.  She may be even better next year.  Why race her agains a horse that has only raced 3 times this year?  "sides if someone paid 10 million dollars for her, I would guess that he could do whatever he wanted with her.

Well written article Alex.  I would have loved to see Rachel run at the Breeders Cup (just because it is so exciting to watch her race!) but I am glad that she is not.  If she were my horse I would not run her on synthetics either.  I have now read a couple articles indicating that horses switching from dirt to synthetic appear to, at least initially, be more prone to injury.  I would never take that chance with my horse! The only safe way to switch it appears, is slowly and over a considerable period of time - which is a waste of time when there are perfectly good dirt tracks ready to run on today.  I personally hope she is done for the year & I hope they send her to a farm and not keep her at the track, but if not, I would like to see her in the Beldame if she is her old self. I don't feel it necessary to face the boys again this year - she has all next year for more great things.  I also feel she has earned HOTY - regardless of what the rest do they cannot top it. I especially hope that this year and in ALL future years - no horse that comes to this country just for the Breeders Cup, wins any year end championship award here (the awards in their own countries are for their campaigns).  The Eclipse awards are for American based campaigns and 1 race here no matter how spectacular - does not override the entire seasons of all the rest!  In fact - I think that should be a rule that is added to govern the voting!

Mr. Waldrop,

Thank you for providing the explanatory links of which I read both.

I think all these exclusivity rights with TVG and such are good for those companies but not good for racing as whole. If they make attaining national coverage more difficult, and from my own experience prevent me from betting on certain tracks over the phone or internet, then why can't something be done?

I thought the NTRA had more control than it seems it does. Now maybe I'm wrong, and by all means correct me if that's the case, but without more regular national exposure and a hungry audience, you can kiss the NTRA and thoroughbred racing goodbye.

Please understand I am a huge fan of horse racing and would never want the sport to die. While I may not know much about the specifics of your job, I can speak from a fan's perspective.

So if there is anything possible you could do to help create more coverage and fewer contractual limitations, that would be great.

I'm sorry but RA still has lots to prove before she can be crowned Horse of the Year. IMO she needs to prove she can beat older mares. she needs to prove she can show up (ANYWHERE) on the biggest race day of the year and beat the best the world has to offer. by the same token i think Zenyatta still has alot to prove this year too. i doubt any Zenyatta fans would disagree...it's obvious. but she did prove last year that she IS the reigning Queen by beating the best mares in the world. If she runs in this years BC Classic and beats the best horses in the world, that IMO would trump anything RA has done this year. Zenyatta would definitely deserve Horse of the Year.  

Raybird

    RA showed up at the Oaks in KY, she showed up at the Preakness in MD, she showed up at the Haskell in NJ, in mud, and she showed up in the Woodward against OLDER MALES! She has run no matter the condition of the track and won, she has been to six states and seven tracks and still showed up and won. She's been showing up, where have you been, on the moon?

Rachel showed up everywhere against ok horses but skipping the big race that really counts. Yap, this is where the best horses in the world are showing up THE BREEDERS. Eh, she is outclassed there anyway. Ladies? No chance if Zenyatta is ther. Classic? Yeah right! lol. I'd rather bet the giant mare than this 3 year old filly. Rachel has no business being in the classic even if it was dirt. Oh Rachel in the 2010 Classic? Yeah sure! Please!